Air hammer



Feb. 20, 1951 H. B. LEWIS AIR HAMMER Filed March 4, 1946 /N VEN 7'09. HOWAQD B. LEW/S mews/05c 0 E0 A m/W3 all M FOR ME F/eM ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to tool holders and particularly to pneumatically-operated hammering implements adapted to support and actuate various types of fabricating tools.

Pneumatic hammers are commonly employed for performing riveting, cutting, and other fabricating operations and such hammers usually comprise acasin provided with a handle portion and a tool supporting portion extendin rom the handle portion at right angles thereto and adapted to mount various types of fabricating tools. The tool supporting portion is provided with a cylinder in which a hammer member is arranged to reciprocate to adapt it to impart rapid intermittent blows or impact against the fabricating tool. Com ressed a r is introduced into the cylinder to reciprocate the hammer and the ingress of said air is controlled by a manuallyoperated valve. While such pneumatic hammers are quite satisfactory in performing ordinary hammering operations, it has been found that the extent of their use is quite limited. For example, during the fabrication of complicated aircraft sub-assemblies and other work of frame-like nature, it is often necessary that the pneumatic hammer be applied to use between closely spaced parts or inserted through apertures of small size and it is therefore extremely diflicult, if not impossible, to use such a right-angled implement. To overcome thi difficulty, various types of pneumatic hammering devices have been proposed, each especially designed for use in the manufacturing of a particular article, thus increasin the cost of tooling and the over-all cost of producing the article.

It is a particular object of my invention to provide a pnuematically-operated hammering device which is so constructed that it can be adjusted to permit the fabricating tool to reciprocate either in a path normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle or in a path aligned with the axis of said handle whereby to adapt the device to be employed either in the manner of a pistol when space requirements are unimportant and in the nature of a straight tool whenthedevice is to be used in relatively narrow spaces.

Another object is to provide a device of the type referred to having a two-part casing consisting of a handle member provided with an angular face at one end and a tool supporting member having a similar angular face positioned against the angular face of the handle member, said members being pivoted together on an axis normal to the plane of said faces to permit them to be rotated relative to each other from a position wherein their longitudinal axes are arranged at right angles to each other and to another position wherein their axes are aligned.

Another object is to provide a device of the type referred to havin retaining means for retaining the handle member and tool supporting member in their adjusted positions and means for maintaining the angular faces of said members in fluid-tight engagement.

Another object is to provide in a device of the type referred to a novel and ingenious means for rotatably connectin the handle member and tool supporting member, said connecting means also serving as a coupling adapted to maintain the operating cylinder of the device in fluid connection with the source of compressed air when the members are adjusted to either angular position.

Another object is to provide a device of the character referred to which is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in performing its intended function.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and the drawing, which is intended for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved pneumatically operated hammering device, shown partly in section to illustrate the pivotal connection, the parts of said device being illustrated as adjusted to a position wherein the tool supporting member extends at right angles to the handle member;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts as having been relatively rotated to a position wherein the tool supporting member and handle member are aligned; and

Fig. 31s a cross-sectional view through the device taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved pneumatically-operated hammering device comprises a handle member 5 having a hand grip 6 at its lower end and a cylindrical head 1 at its upper end. The forward end of the head l is provided with an angular bearing face 8. That is to say, the forwardend of the head I is cut at an angle of forty-five degrees to the said hole being counterbored as shown at I 3. The handle member 5 is provided with a pin I4 which projects forwardly from the inclined face 8.

The inner tapered end Ii of the recess l con stitutes an air chamber and compressed air may be supplied thereto through ducts l5 and I6 extending upwardly through the handle member 5. The duct may be supplied with compressed air through means of a hose, not shown, connected to the lower end of the handle member by any suitable means. Interposed between the two ducts i5 and i6 is a port ll which is adapted to be opened and closed by a valve member 18 having a finger piece l9 adapted tobe operated by the index finger in the manner of a trigger.

The hammering device also includes a tool supporting member which is indicated generally by the reference character 20 in the drawing. The member consists of a cylindrical element 2! having a rearward face 22 disposed at an angle of forty-five degrees to the axis of the element. Projecting rearwardly from the inclined face 22 of the element 25 is a bearing lug or boss 24 having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bearing recess iii of the handle member 5 to adapt it to be rotatably'received in the recess. The bearing lug 24 is provided with a rearwardly projecting portion 25 of reduced diameter, said portion having a screw-threaded hole 26. Holes 2! and 28 are drilled in the inclined face 22 of the element 2| and diametrically disposed with respect to the boss 24, said holes being adapted to receive the projecting end of the pin M for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

The element 2| has a bore 30 which is a screwthreaded at its inner end and the element is also provided with aport 3| adapted to communicate between the bore 30 and the inner end I! of the bearing opening Ill of the handle member 5 when the members 5 and 20 are in assembled relationship. Screwed into the bore 38 of the element 2! is a member 33 having an axial bore 34 which constitutes a cylinder in which a piston or hammer member 35 is adapted to reciprocate. The member 33 has a peripheral groove 35 adapted to receive compressed air passing through the ports 3| and air passages (not shown) are provided in the sides of the member 33 to direct the air against suitable faces on the hammer member 35 to rapidly reciprocate the latter within the cylinder 34. Since the means for reciprocating the hammer in devices of this general type are well known in the art they are not therein shown or described in detail.

Carried by the member 33 at its outer end is a holder or chuck member 38 adapted to receive the inner end 39 of a fabricating tool 40 of any desired type. The end 39 of the fabricating tool 4i! may be retained in the chuck member 38 by any suitable means to adapt it to reciprocate therein, the outer end of the hammer member 35 being adapted to strike the inner end of the tool.

The handle member 5 and tool supporting member 29 are rotatably connected together by inserting the bearing boss 24 into the bearing openin it and these members are held in assembled relationship by means of a screw 4| having a threaded end screwed into the threaded hole 25 and provided with a head 43 seated in the counter bore I3. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the screw 4l may be loosened to permit the members 5 and 20 to be relatively rotated to permit angular adjustment between said members and that the pin 14 is adapted to enter either of the holes 21 or 28 of the mem- 4 her 20 to retain the members in their adjusted positions.

The improved pneumatically operated hammer implement may be applied to use in the manner of a rivet gun and in this case the tool supporting member 25 is disposed at an angle of ninety degrees with respect to the theoretical longitudinal axis of the handle member 5 as shown in Fig. 1. When the members 5 and 20 are adjusted to this position the retainer pin is is positioned in the hole 2'! to prevent relative rotation between said members. The screw 4! which is screwed into the threaded hole 26, serves to hold the inclined faces 8 and 22 in firm engagement to provide a leak-proof joint. To apply the device to use, a suitable fabricating tool is inserted in the chuck member 38 and its outer end is pressed against the work (not shown), after which the finger piece I9 is depressed to cause the valve l8 to open the port ll to permit compressed air to pass from the duct l5 into the duct I 6 and to enter the air chamber 55. The compressed air flows through the port 3! into the groove 36 to reciprocate the hammer member 35 in the cylinder 34. As the hammer member 35 is rapidly reciprocated its forward end periodically strikes the inner end 39 of the fabricating tool 40 to impart intermittent forward thrusts thereto and thus the tool is actuated to perform its intended function. To arrest the operation of the device it is only necessary to release the finger piece 59 of the valve member !8 to disrupt the flow of compressed air into the air chamber l.

The hammering device may be applied to use in the conventional manner above explained when clearance openings in the work permit such use. However, it is sometimes necessary to insert the implement through an aperture or between relatively closely spaced parts of the work and it is impractical, if not impossible, to employ an angularly shaped implement for such purposes. To adapt the present implement for use in small areas its members 5 and 20 are relatively rotated to the position shown in Fig. 2 whereby to substantially align their longitudinal axe and thus provide a comparatively narrow, straight tool capable of being inserted through an aperture or used between closely spaced parts of the work.

To adjust the parts of the device from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that illustrated in Fig. 2 the screw 4! is first loosened to permit the members 20 and 5 to be moved apart sufiicicntly to withdraw the pin l4 from the hole 21. The screw 4! is not loosened sufiiciently to allow displacement of the bearing projection or boss 24 from the bearing opening in so that disassembly of the parts is avoided. After the members 5 and 29 have been moved apart they may be relatively rotated to align the hole 28 with the pin l4, after which the screw 4| may be tightened to draw the members together with their inclined faces 8 and 22 in fluid-tight engagement. During and after the adjustment of the members 5 and 20 the port 3! remains in fluid communication with the bore 35 and air chamber H so that the device may be operated in a manner similar to that previously explained.

It will be observed from the foregoing that my invention provides a pneumatic hammering implement which is adapted to be used either as a straight or an angular tool so that it may be employed for a large variety of work. Since the device is angularly adjustable to adapt it for auaosa performing various types of Work, vthe need for separate devices for performing such work is eliminated and thus its use effects a substantial reduction in the cost of tooling and in the overall cost of manufacturing articles. The means for relatively adjusting the parts of thedevice is simple in construction and maybe readily incorporated in a large varietyof tool holders employed for various purposes. For example, the adjusting means has been described as incorporated in a power-operated tool of a pneumatic type but it is within the purview of this invention to apply such adjusting meansto an electrically-operated device, to manually-operated tool holders or other implements such as socket wrenches and the like. In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed,'the handle member and tool supporting member are adapted to be relatively adjusted tot'wo positions only, but it will be readily understood that by providing additional locating holes or by'eliminating the locating holes and locating pin the members could be relatively adjusted to other angular posit ons.

While the improvement implement has been herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction by way of example, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction and in the manner of applying it to use without departing from the spir t or scope of the invention and I therefore reserve the right to all such changes as properly come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tool holder, comprising: a handle mem ber provided with an angular face at one end and provided with an aperture extending in a plane normal to the Plane of said face; a tool supporting member having means for supporting a tool at one end and provided with an angular face at its other end :positioned against said angular face of said handle member; a pivot member on said tool supporting member and projecting from its angular face in a plane normal to the plane of said face, said pivot member being adapted to engage in said aperture to rotatably connect said handle member and said tool supporting member whereby to permit relative rotation between said handle member and said tool supporting member to adjust the angular relation therebetween; and retaining means for retaining said handle member and said: tool supporting member in different positions of angular adjustment.

2. A tool holder, comprising: a handle member provided with an angular face at one end and provided with an aperture extending therethrough in a plane normal to the plane of said face; a tool supporting member having means for supporting a tool at one end and provided with an angular face at its other end positioned against said angular face of said handle member; a pivot lug on said tool supporting member and projecting from its angular face in a plane normal thereto, said pivot lug being engageable in said aperture to permit relative rotation between said handle member and said tool supporting member to adjust the angular relation therebetween; and means engageable between said pivot lug and said handle member for retaining said tool supporting member and said handle member in different positions of angular adjustment.

3. A tool holder, comprising: a handle member provided with an angular face at one end, said handle member being provided with a lug pro? jecting from its angular face; atool'supporting member having means for supporting a tool at one end. and provided with an angular face at its other end positioned against said. angular face of said handle member, said tool supporting member. being provided with. a plurality of holes in its angular face; and means for rotatably connecting said handle member and said tool supporting member on an axis normal to the plane of said angular faces whereby to permit relative rotation between said handle member and said tool supporting member to adjust the angular relation therebetween, said lug of said handle member being adapted to be engaged selectively in said holes of said tool supporting member to retain said handle member and said tool supporting member in different positions of angular adjustment.

4. A hammering implement, comprising: a handle member provided with an angular face at one end, said face extending at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees to the longitudinal axis of said handle member and provided with a lug; a tool supporting member having means for supporting a tool at one end and provided with an angular face at its other end, said angular face being disposed at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees to the longitudinal axis of said tool supporting member and adapted to be positioned against said angular face of said handle member and provided with a pair of holes adapted to receive said lug; and means for rotatably connecting said handle member and said tool supporting member on an axis normal to the plane of said angular faces whereby to permit relative rotation between said handle member and said tool supporting member to adjust the angular relation therebetween, said lug being adapted to engage in one of said holes to retain said members in one position wherein their longitudinal axes extend perpendicular to each other and to engage in the other of said holes to retain said members in another position wherein their longitudinal axes are substantially aligned.

5. A tool holder, comprising, a handle member provided with an angular face extending at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees to the longitudinal axis of said handle member, said handle member being provided with a bore extending normal to said angular face and a counterbore axially aligned with said bore; a tool supporting member having means for supporting a tool at one end and provided with an angular face at its other end disposed at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees to the longitudinal axis of said tool supporting member, said tool supporting member being provided with a circular boss projecting normal from its angular face and having a threaded hole in its end, and said boss being adapted to be engaged in said counterbore to permit relative rotation between said handle member and said tool supporting member to adjust the angular relation therebetween; a headed screw having a head engaging against said handle member and a shank passing through said bore and screwed into said threaded hole to retain said boss in said counterbore; and means for retaining said handle member and said tool supporting member in different positions of angular adjustment.

6. A tool holder, comprising: a handle member provided with an angular face at one end,

said handle member being provided with a projection on its angular face; a tool supporting member having means for supporting a tool at one end and provided with an angular face at its other end positioned against said angular face of said handle member, said angular face of said tool supporting member being provided with spaced openings; and means for rotatably connecting said handle member and said tool supporting member on an axis normal to the plane of said angular faces whereby to permit relative rotation between said handle member and said tool supporting member to adjust the angular relation therebetween, said projection on said handle member being adapted to be engaged selectively in said openings of said tool supporting member to hold said handle member and said tool supporting member in different positions of angular adjustment.

7. A pneumatic hammering implement, comprising: a handle member provided with an angular face at one end, said handle member being provided with walls defining a cylindrical air chamber adjacent said angularface and an air passage communicating with said chamber; a tool supporting member having means for supporting a tool at one end and provided with an angular face at its other end positioned against said angular face of said handle member and being provided with a projection on said angular face adapted to be received in said chamber to rotatably connect said handle member and said tool supporting member, said tool supporting member having walls defining a cylinder and an air passage communicating between said cylinder and said chamber; a piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder to actuate said tool; and means for introducing compressed air through said chamber and said air passages into said cylinder to operate said piston.

8. A pneumatic hammering implement, comprising: a handle member provided with an angular face at one end, said handle member being provided with walls defining a cylindrical air chamber adjacent said angular face and an air passage communicating with said chamber; a tool supporting member having means for supporting a tool for reciprocation at one end and provided with an angular face at its other end positioned against said angular face of said handle member, said tool supporting member being provided with a projection on its angular face adapted to be received in said chamber to adapt said handle member and said tool supporting member to be relatively rotated to different positions of angular adjustment, and'said tool supporting member having walls defining a cylinder having an air passage adapted to communicat with saidchamber in all positions of relative angular adjustment between said handle member and said tool supporting member; a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and adapted to actuate said tool; means for introducing compressed air through said chamber and said air passages into said cylinder to reciprocate said piston; and clamping means for clamping said handle member and said tool supporting member in different positions of angular adjustment with said angular faces of said members in air-tight engagement.

9. A pneumatic hammering implement, comprising: a handle member provided with an angular face at one end; a tool supporting member having means for supporting a tool at one endand provided with an angular face at its other end positioned against said angular face of said handle member; pneumatically operated means in said tool supporting member for actuating said tool; means for rotatably connecting said handle member and said tool supporting member on an axis normal to the plane of said. angular faces whereby to permit relative rotation between said handle member and said tool supporting member to adjust the angular relation therebetween; means for introducing compressed air through said handle member and into said tool supporting member to operate said pneumatic tool actuating means; and clamping means for clamping said handle member and said tool supporting member in different positions of angular adjustment with said angular faces of said members in fluid-tight engagement.

HOWARD B. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 131,499 Chamberlin Sept. 24, 1872 597,469 Marshall Jan. 18, 1898 2,372,029 Stair Mar. 20, 1945 2,413,542 Butts Dec. 31, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 128,189 Germany Oct. 3, 1900 553,151 Great Britain May 10, 1943 

